"Li Qingchen~!" "Li Qingchen!"
The noisy shouts jolted Li Qingchen awake. Wasn't he dead? How could he still hear someone calling him?
He slowly opened his eyes, blinking in confusion. A narrow alley, littered with cigarette butts. Mottled walls bearing faded, peeling slogans. And standing before him, surrounding him, were seven or eight idle teenagers in school uniforms, a gang.
This place... isn't this the alley next to Dengzhou No. 2 Middle School, his high school alma mater? The notorious hangout for delinquents?
And why did this scene feel so eerily familiar?
A tremor of realization ran through Li Qingchen's heart. He thought of a possibility.
The next moment, he held his breath and looked forward.
Sure enough, standing directly in front of him was the familiar figure: short, refreshing hair, delicate features, and a pair of strikingly heroic, sword-like eyebrows.
"Li, you deaf idiot! Didn't you hear me calling you?!" Su Wangwang craned her slender neck, leaning her face close to his, deliberately putting on a fierce expression. "I'm looking for Bai Yueya. Why are you following me here?"
"What? You wanna start something—?!" Su Wangwang's voice abruptly cut off.
Because her mouth was suddenly covered.
Covered by Li Qingchen's mouth.
The sudden "attack" left her stunned.
It was a long moment before Li Qingchen finally pulled away. Then, he pulled her into his arms and whispered, his voice trembling slightly:
"Agreed!" "This life, I'll fulfill the promise!"
The early morning breeze gently stirred the fallen leaves, carrying a crisp coolness.
On the campus of Dengzhou No. 2 Middle School, the lively sounds of students' chattering and playful shouts drifted from time to time. Meanwhile, just beyond the wall, in a narrow alley, the atmosphere was starkly different. Here, time seemed to halt, a pocket of silence divorced from the bustling campus.
Su Wangwang was held in Li Qingchen's arms, her face a mask of confusion. Her eyes were wide and unfocused, her entire being seemingly adrift. The seven or eight gangsters stood dumbfounded, staring at Li Qingchen with a mix of awe and utter disbelief.
This was Su Wangwang! The notorious 'little tyrant' of No. 2 Middle School! He actually kissed her! The 'tigress' herself! This guy... he's truly a legend!
Finally, "Ding Ling Ling~!" The school bell rang abruptly, shattering the still picture.
Su Wangwang's mind snapped back to reality, and she hurriedly broke free from Li Qingchen's arms. Like a frightened fawn, she leapt back, putting distance between them.
"You, you, you, you're actually playing tricks on me!" Su Wangwang's eyes fluttered and dodged, her cheeks flushed a furious crimson. Her 'tiger's teeth' gnashed, and she pointed a trembling finger at Li Qingchen, her face a mask of feigned bravery as she spat out harsh words.
"You, wait! This isn't over! You! Don't you dare leave if you've got the guts! I'll call my people here!" "Just you wait for me!" Su Wangwang declared, backing away, increasing the distance. At the end, she turned and ran, her long legs a blur, a talent wasted on anything but track and field.
The remaining gangsters looked at each other, then gave Li Qingchen a thumbs up one after another before following her. Only Li Qingchen was left standing alone in the alley, watching their retreating backs. He rubbed his forehead, a mix of annoyance and amusement.
He had been so excited just now. He never thought. Just moments ago, he'd believed they were separated forever. But in the blink of an eye, God had granted him a second chance, a chance to reunite with the girl he owed so much. In that moment, he was truly overwhelmed.
It was just that this particular moment of rebirth wasn't quite right. His impulsive kiss and hug had clearly scared the little girl.
"Huh~ Li Qingchen, calm down, you must calm down~! She's not familiar with this version of you yet. Don't rush it, be sure to take your time!" Li Qingchen took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
Others might misunderstand her because of her reputation as a tough 'little sister,' but Li Qingchen knew her clearly. Su Wangwang was actually a very conservative woman at heart. Even when she hung out with some of the punks on and off campus, that was strictly camaraderie. She never crossed the line between friends and lovers. Li Qingchen's impulsive behavior just now probably left a psychological shadow on Su Wangwang. If he acted so impulsively again, she might not call the police, but she'd certainly avoid him like the plague.
But no matter. Since God had given him a chance to do it all over again, and the promise he'd made in his previous life echoed in his mind: I will never let my little sister wait foolishly for so many years again!
Thinking of this, Li Qingchen couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth, a happy smile spreading across his face. He adjusted his schoolbag on his back, left the alley, and walked towards the campus.
The high-spirited Li Qingchen entered Class 2-3. He hadn't been reborn for even half an hour, yet the moment he stepped into the classroom, he was hit with a familiar, crushing blow.
"Li Qingchen! You're late again! How many times has this been this month?! Do you still want to go to school properly?!" Lao Lu, the homeroom teacher, his face turning a furious shade of black and red, slammed his hand on the desk and roared angrily: "Tell me, why are you late this time!"
As he watched, dusty memories began to surface. Li Qingchen instinctively straightened, blurting out: "Reporting, Teacher! I got lost!"
Huh?!What a familiar excuse! Why did it come out so naturally?!
Sure enough, the next moment, Lao Lu's whole body began to tremble, and steam seemed to rise from his head.
"Lost again?! Lost again?! Since the beginning of high school, I've been your class teacher for a year and a half. By now, you've been 'lost' at least hundreds of times!" "Just treat me as your homeroom teacher and beg you! Can you show me some respect and come up with a different excuse next time?! Please, for the love of God, stop getting lost!"
Li Qingchen, splattered with spittle, hung his head, not daring to utter a word. He had indeed gone too far. Throughout his previous high school years, he'd run to the north of the county seat almost every morning just to buy Bai Yueya a breakfast she liked. Dengzhou No. 2 Middle School was located south of the county seat. So he'd been late almost every single day. Only because Lao Lu was tough-tongued but soft-hearted did he merely scold him each time. Any other teacher would have expelled him, or at least called his parents every other day.
From the lecture table, Lao Lu, having vented his usual tirade, felt most of his anger dissipate. Looking at the ashamed Li Qingchen, Lao Lu snorted: "Do you know you're wrong?"
"Yes, Teacher." Li Qingchen's admission of guilt was surprisingly sincere.
Lao Lu's face softened a little: "Then what should you do in the future?"
Li Qingchen said honestly: "In the future, I will use another excuse, not that I'm lost."
Lao Lu: "???" "I-I-I-I-I—"
"Pfft~!" A 'Pfft!' erupted from the classroom, and then, as if a switch had been flipped, most of the students burst into laughter.
Lao Lu's face cycled through shades of black and crimson. Pointing to the door, he roared: "Go to the door and stand, and for the whole week after that, all the class hygiene will be cleaned by you!"
"Understood, Teacher!" Li Qingchen walked out of the classroom door with a wilted head.
As he turned, his gaze inadvertently fell upon that spot, on that beautiful figure. Bai Yueya! Except, unlike before, this time Li Qingchen took the initiative to look away without any nostalgia.
A man's love, once decided, can be a burning, all-consuming flame. But once he chooses to let go, that flame can be extinguished, leaving no trace of warmth, no lingering nostalgia. His former self, after two decades of relentless devotion, had received only disdain. Now, this new Li Qingchen felt no lingering attachment to the beauty of the past. In his heart, there was only one 'little sister'.